Columnist was cherry picking studies

The Nov. 28 column piece by James Taylor of The Heartland Institute demands a response. Taylor cherry picked the scientific literature to support his assertion that drought and other extreme weather events are unrelated to climate change. His views are totally at odds with those of the overwhelming majority of climate scientists.

Taylor criticizes the recent letter signed by 138 Iowa scientists noting that most of the signers are not climate or atmospheric scientists. He touts a petition disputing a climate crisis signed by "more than 31,000 scientists," but he fails to mention that fewer than 1 percent of the signers are climate or atmospheric scientists. (Readers can sign this petition at the Heartland's website.) Conveniently, he also omits the fact that he is not a scientist.

As evidence to refute a climate crisis he writes, "Global grain harvests have nearly tripled during the past 50 years" - ignoring the increased use of fertilizers, high-yielding hybrids and irrigation during this period.

For years The Heartland Institute has been widely known as a shill for tobacco and energy interests. Not only does it question the adverse effects of climate change, it also questions the link between secondhand smoke and health risks.

Peter Hansen

Iowa City

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Columnist was cherry picking studies

The Nov. 28 column piece by James Taylor of The Heartland Institute demands a response. Taylor cherry picked the scientific literature to support his assertion that drought and other extreme weather